Height responsive device for ingot molds



Oct. 4, 1955 w. J. CAIN HEIGHT RESPONSIVE DEVICE FOR INGOT MOLDS FiledDec. 11

0 MAM /.1

A w v 5 55 W H M w INVENTOR. E 271mm fase fi laz'n 4 TTORNE Y UnitedStates Patent HEIGHT RESPONSIVE DEVICE FOR INGOT MOLDS William JosephCain, Poland, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application December 11, 1951, SerialNo. 261,015

8 Claims. (Cl. 200152) This invention relates to a device fordetermining when molten metal has reached a predetermined height in aningot mold and more particularly to a device which actuates a sensorysignal when the metal has reached the predetermined height; and whichmay be moved readily and used with successive molds during an ingotpouring operation.

In the pouring of metal ingots, for example, steel ingots, it isdesirable to be able to determine the size of the ingots in advance sothat they will meet desired weight specifications. For example, if theingots are to be cut into a small number of relatively large units whichmust be of a given weight and an ingot is underweight, the last unit cutfrom the ingot will not meet the weight requirements, and, therefore, alarge portion of the ingot must be scrapped.

For a variety of other reasons, as well, it is generally important thateach ingot be cast as accurately as possible to a predetermined size andweight, which may usually (although not necessarily) be the same foreach of a series of ingot molds to be filled in sequence from a ladle ofmolten metal.

It has been customary to gauge the weight of ingots by measuring theirheight in molds in which the other dimensions are known. One means ofdetermining the height of the ingots has been to mark a chalk linearound the inside of the mold. When the operator of the pouringmechanism for the ladle containing the molten metal (e. g. molten steel)observes that the metal has filled the mold, to the height of the chalkline, he stops the pouring. However, because of smoke arising from themetal in the mold, or because of danger in standing close to the opentop of the mold, it is frequently diflicult to observe the chalk lineclearly and the pourer 1s sometimes compelled to guess at the height atwhich to stop the pouring. Consequently, it is difiicult to obtainaccurate weight control of the ingots.

Electric contact devices have been employed for indicating when fluidreached a predetermined level in a container. Such devices have includedan electrode disposed within the top or upper part of the container anda contact fixed to the outside of the container; the electrode and thecontact being connected to a control or signal circuit which was closedby the fluid and the container when the fluid reached the level of theelec-' trode. Because the containers were installed in fixed locationsor were carefully handled, it was feasible to use fixed supports for theelectrodes and to provide conductors which were permanently fixed to thecontainers so as to assure good electrical contact with the containers.

Such devices were not adaptable to steel ingot molds 2,719,895 PatentedDot. 4, 1955 of or the mold or its top otherwise requires operationthrough the mouth during ingot removal or later handling.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an accurateand improved means for indicating when molten metal has reached aselected predetermined height in a mold.

Another object is to provide a height indicating device which is notfixed to the mold but may be moved readily from one mold to another sothat the molds will not be encumbered with the device before and afterthe pouring and also so that duplicate devices are not required witheach mold.

An additional object is to provide a device by which an electrode prodmay be removably supported at a selected predetermined height in themouth of the mold, and which has means for contacting the outer surfaceof the mold to assure the closing of a sensory signal circuit when themolten metal contacts the electrode prod.

The invention, which may be described as a molten metal heightindicating device for closing an electrical circuit, e. g. the circuitof a sensory signal, includes (in its presently preferred embodiment) anelectrode prod which may be removably and adjustably supported in themouth of an ingot mold at a selected height by a supporting means. Thesupport means is connected to an electrically insulated plate or thelike which may be removably positioned on the upper surface of the mold,e. g. the edge of the mold mouth. At least one resilient contact memberis also connected to the plate and is pressed into contact with theouter surface of the mold when the plate is positioned on the mold. Theapparatus also advantageously includes a supply of electricity, anelectrically energizable sensory signal device and electrical conductorsconnecting the electrode, the electrical supply the signal device, andthe resilient contact so that the circuit is completed through themolten metal and the mold When the metal rises into contact with theelectrode. The supporting means may have a member extending outwardlyfrom the mold for easy movement of the device from one mold to anotherand the outward extension may be provided with legs at least one ofwhich may be adjustable to support the outwardly extending member atdesired levels with respect to the rest of the apparatus.

For a more complete description of the invention, reference is made tothe drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of one form of apparatus embodying the invention,in operative position on an ingot mold;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus when not in use;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus taken along theline 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus taken along theline 4-4 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a diagram of the electrical circuit for the sensory signalwhich forms part of the apparatus,

The apparatus shown in the drawings includes a supporting means having amain frame member 10, one end of which is connected, as by bolts 14, toan electrically insulated plate 11 which is adapted to be removablypositioned on upper surface 12, i. e. the top edge, of the mold 13. Abracket 16 is also connected to the frame 10 and the plate 11. Thebracket 16 is arranged to extend over the mouth of the mold 13 when theapparatus is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The end 17 of the bracketover the mouth of the mold is provided with a collar 18 having anadjustable set screw 20. An electrode 21 which may have a carbon end 22is adapted to be received in the collar 18 so that it is substantiallyvertically disposed. The level of the lower end 22 may be 23 adjustedvertically by releasing'the'set screw 20, sliding the electrodevertically in the collar 18 and resetting the screw 20 when the end 22is at the selected level with respect to the mold.

A leg 23 is fixed to the plate 11. The lower endof the leg is bifurcatedto provide spaced, ground-contacting foot members 25; as explainedbelow, these feet 25 usually do not actually engage the ground exceptwhen the device is not in use.

A pair of wire brushes 26 formed on opposite ends of a resilient steelstem 27 is mounted on the leg 23 by any suitable means such as byforming a loop in the stem 27 and fixing the loop to the leg by a bolt28, as best shown in Fig. 4. The stem 27 is fixed to the leg 23 in suchmanner that the wire brushes 26 extend diagonally toward the electrode21, as seen in Fig. 2. By this arrangement the brushes are resilientlypressed'against the outer side 30 of the mold 113 when they are in theoperative position shown in Fig. 1. Each of the brushes consists of alarge multiplicity of steel or other resilient metal wires carried by asimilarly conductive support as exemplified by the stem 27, which mayconsist of twisted rods or heavy wires between which the brush wires areclamped.

The end of the main frame 10 remote from the leg 23 may be provided witha collar member 31 which may be fixed on the frame 10 at the desiredlateral position by tightening set screw 32. The collar 31 is providedwith a vertically disposed sleeve to receive a leg 33. The leg 33 whichis bifurcated at its lower end to form ground contacting foot members 35(see Fig. 3) may be fixed at a desired height with respect to the sleeveof collar 31 by adjustment of the set screw 36. By this means the leg 33may be adjusted to cooperate with the fixed leg 23 in supporting theapparatus when not in use, on the ground or floor surface 34, as shownin Fig. 2; or to cooperate with the plate 11 for the support of theapparatus when in operative position, as shown in Fig. 1. In this lastmentioned position, the mold 13 which is supported upon a fiat car (notshown) is brought alongside the pouring platform 37 upon which theoperator of the pouring apparatus stands.

Although other structures may be employed, the frame 10 may convenientlyconsist of a length of rigid steel pipe or tubing, and likewise the mainbody portions of the members 23 and 33. The support plate 11advantageous- A ly comprises a plate or block of durable, nonconductingrefractory material (such as dense asbestos board) having a partiallyrecessed underside in which is secured a steel plate or block 11a towhich the member 23 is suitably fastened.

By the provision of the extended portion of frame 10, the operator mayeasily lift the apparatus from, or position it on a mold while remaininga safe distance from the mouth of the mold, and from the nozzle of theladle which is directly above the mold. The leg 33 provides an effectivemeans of steadying the apparatus (e. g; on the platform 37) when itis inposition on the mold, the leg and the support 10 thus normallycooperating to support the device in a stable but easily removablemanner. By adjusting the leg 33 so that the frame member 10 ishorizontal, the end 22 of the electrode 21 will be properly orientedvertically at the level to which it has been adjusted prior to thepouring.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of one simple form (by way of example) of a suitablesensory signal device circuit which may form a part of the describedapparatus. The circuit includes the electrode 21, connected by line, i.e. conductor'39'to one terminal of an electrically energized sensorysignal device, such as alarm bell 38. The other terminal of the bell 38is connected by line 41 to one terminal of a supply of electricity suchas battery 40. The other terminal of the battery is connected by line 42to wire brushes 26. When the lower end 22 of the electrode 21 iscontacted by molten metal 43, as it'rises in the mold 13, the circuit iscompleted from the electrode l 21' to the brushes 26 through the moltenmetal and'the wall of the mold 13 energizing the bell device and causingit to ring.

The battery 40 and the bell 38 (as well as any other or alternativecircuit components, e. g. circuit-controlling relays or the like, ifdesired) may be housed in a suitable receptacle such as box 45 which isbolted or otherwise suitably fixed to the frame 10.

The line 3% from the electrode to the bell may consist of the frame 10and bracket 16 which are both of electrically conductive material (i. e.steel or other metal) and are suitably insulated from the mold 13 by theplate 11. The line 42 may be an insulated wire, for instance, insulatedwith braided glass fiber which for protection may be carried inside theframe 10, entering the frame through drill hole 46 adjacent leg 23 andleaving the frame through drill hole 47. If desired, instead of relyingon the frame for connection, a separate, similarly insulated wire (notshown) may extend from the electrode bracket 16 through the pipe 10 tothe box 45. The line 41 between the bell 3S and the battery 40 'is shownin Fig. 3.

For operation, the apparatus is placed on mold 13in the position shownin Fig. 1, either before or during the pouring of metal. The electrode21 extends into the top or mouth of the mold, and the end 22'of theelectrode is maintained 'at the selected level by the plate 11 restingon the upper surface 12of the mold. The leg 33 maintains the frame 10substantially horizontal and steadies the apparatus. In this position,the wire brushes 26 are resiliently pressed against the outside surface30 of the mold 13.

When the molten metal reaches the tip or lower end 22' of the electrode21, the electrical circuit is closed which causes the alarm bell 38'toring thus notifying the operator to stop the pouring.

Afterone mold has been poured, the apparatus is withdrawn and'positionedon the next mold'to be poured and the cycle is repeated for succeedingmolds of the same size which are to be filled to the same height.

The h'eight'of the metal to bepoured in the mold is predetermined bysetting the electrode 21 so that the lower end thereof is the desireddistance from the top or upper surface 12 of the mold when the plate isresting on said upper surface.

The outer surfaces'of the molds are usually quite rough and are coveredwith foreign 'matter which may be electrically non-conductive so that areliable electrical-contact would not'be assured if there was but asingle contact member. which present a plurality of possible conductors,a reliable electrical contact is established. brushes'have a scratchingor scouring action when they are pressed into ccntact'which assistsindislodging the foreign matter, and in keeping the ends or other partsof the brush wires clean, to assure effective contact with' the moldsurface.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the invention fulfillsthe objects set forth above in that it provides a means for accuratelydetermining when ingots have reached a desired predetermined height, andalso in that the device maybe readily moved from one mold to another sothat a separate device is not required on each mold. It will also beappreciated that this invention provides a means for supporting themetal contacting electrode at a selected predetermined level in themouth of the mold and provides an effective removable contact means tuswhich preferably carries both the sensory signal bell 38 and the sourceof current 40 on the supporting frame, represents an unusuallyconvenient, fully portable However, by employing the brushes'26 Inaddition, the

and entirely self-contained instrument for use in pouring ingots or thelike to an accurate, desired height.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principlesof this invention have been described together with the best mode ofapplying those principles, however, it should be understood that thestructure disclosed is but one mode of utilizing the invention and thestructure described is merely illustrative, for the invention may becarried out by other and alternative means. Also, while it iscontemplated to use the various features and elements in thecombinations and relations described, some of these may be altered andmodified in ways other than those suggested, without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A height indicating device for closing an electrical circuit for asensory signal when molten metal reaches a predetermined level in amold, said device comprising, an electrode, a supporting member, anadjustable holding means at one end of the supporting member for holdingthe electrode in the mouth of the mold with one end of the electrode atselected levels, a leg support having a ground-contacting foot member, asecond adjustable means at the end of the supporting member remote fromthe electrode holding means, for holding the leg so that the foot meanscan be adjusted to a selected height, an electrically insulated platemember attached to the supporting member intermediate the ends thereoffor removable engagement with the upper surface of the mold, at leastone resilient electrically conductive member adapted for contacting theouter surface of the mold when the supporting member is being maintainedin position on the mold by the electrically insulated plate member, asecond leg support fixed to the supporting member intermediate the endsthereof, and having ground-contacting foot means for assisting in thesupport of the device when it is not being supported on the mold by theplate member, and electrical conductors from the electrode and theconductive member to said electrical circuit.

2. A portable height-responsive device for closing an electrical circuitwhen molten metal reaches a predetermined level in an ingot mold,comprising, a supporting frame having support means for removablyseating on the edge of a mold mouth and support means for removablyseating on an adjacent platform surface, an electrode carried by thesupporting frame in position to extend into the mold mouth with itslower end at the aforesaid predetermined level, said first and secondsupport means being jointly adapted to support the frame with theelectrode in its aforesaid position when the support means are seatedrespectively on the mold edge and platform surface, said frame with itssupport means being portable for seated disposition in operativerelation to any one of a plurality of ingot molds, and resilientelectrical contact means carried by the support frame and arranged topress against the outer surface of the mold when the support frame andits support means are removably seated in operative relation to a mold,said device including means insulating the electrode from the mold andfrom said contact means.

3. A device as described in claim 2, in which the resilient contactmeans comprises a multiplicity of resilient members individually adaptedto engage the side of the mold.

4. A device as described in claim 2, in which the support means forseating on the mold edge includes electrical insulating structure whichalso constitutes means insulating the electrode from the mold and theresilient contact means.

5. A device as described in claim 2, in which the resilient contactmeans comprises wire brush means carried in depending relation from thesupport frame for engagement with the side of the mold, said supportmeans for seating on the mold edge including insulating structure whichalso constitutes means insulating the electrode from the mold and theresilient means, and electrical conductors from the electrode and thecontact means to said electrical circuit.

6. A device as described in claim 2, in which the resilient contactmeans comprises at least one wire brush having resilient mounting meansfor resiliently pressing the brush against the outer surface of the moldwhen the device is in operative relation to the mold.

7. A portable height-responsive device for closing an electrical circuitwhen electrically conductive material reaches a predetermined level inan electrically conductive vessel, comprising, a removable supportingframe including support means for removably seating on the vessel anelectrode carried by the supporting frame in position to extend into thevessel with its lower end at the aforesaid predetermined level, saidframe with its support means being portable for seated disposition inoperative relation to any one of a plurality of vessels, resilientcontact means carried by the supporting frame and arranged for pressingagainst the outer surface of the vessel when the frame and its supportmeans are removably seated in operative relation to a vessel, saiddevice including means insulating the electrode from the vessel and fromsaid contact means, and electrical conductors from the electrode and thecontact means to said electrical circuit.

8. A portable height-indicating device for closing an electrical circuitwhen molten metal reaches a predetermined level in a vessel ofelectrically conductive ma terial, comprising supporting means which maybe removably seated on the vessel, an electrode adjustably held by saidsupporting means in position to extend into the vessel and with itslower end at the aforesaid predetermined level when the supporting meansis in position on the vessel, said supporting means being removable forsaid seating in operative position on any one of a plurality of vessels,resilient contact means carried by said supporting means in position forpressing against the outer surface of the vessel when said supportingmeans is removably seated in operative position on a vessel, meansinsulating the electrode from the vessel and from said contact means,and electrical conductors from the electrode and the contact means tosaid electrical circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

